Distance learning for farmers: Experience during the pandemic

Andrea Gardeazabal (2023, [Documento de trabajo])

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of farmer training—a crucial component for enhancing the resilience and livelihoods of smallholder farmers—CIMMYT innovated educational solutions to sustain capacity building in agri-food systems. Addressing the challenges of limited mobile device access, poor internet connectivity, and digital illiteracy, CIMMYT implemented two pilot projects in Mexico. These projects facilitated distance learning for adult farmers in rural areas, employing both internet-based and non-internet methods. The non-internet approach utilized traditional media like print, while the internet-based approach leveraged WhatsApp for educational content delivery. Building on these experiences, CIMMYT expanded its offerings by creating micro -courses delivered through WhatsApp, hosted on the Co-LAB's new Learning Network platform, specifically targeting farmers. This paper delves into the various strategies, methods, and techniques adopted, documenting the learning outcomes, results, and key conclusions drawn from these innovative training initiatives.

Distance Learning Digital Inclusion Innovative Training CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA DISTANCE EDUCATION CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT METHODS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Carbon credits from AFOLU projects in Kodagu

A G ADEETH CARIAPPA (2023, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CARBON AGRICULTURE CLIMATE CHANGE METHODOLOGY

Statistical machine-learning methods for genomic prediction using the SKM library

Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Brandon Alejandro Mosqueda González Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Sparse Kernel Methods R package Statistical Machine Learning Genomic Selection CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION MACHINE LEARNING GENOMICS METHODS

A novel method for genomic-enabled prediction of cultivars in new environments

Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Brandon Alejandro Mosqueda González Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Gains in Accuracy Genomic Prediction Novel Methods CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENOTYPE ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION METHODS ENVIRONMENT

Monitoreo con drones en gráficas con viento dinámico

Jovanni Manuel López Elisea (2024, [Tesis de maestría])

108 páginas. Maestría en Optimización.

Dada una gráfica completa no dirigida, se desea recorrer un subconjunto de sus aristas usando una flotilla de drones. Los drones tienen baterías limitadas que pueden recargarse al regresar a la base y, en principio, el tiempo para recorrer una arista está en función de la distancia entre sus vértices. Sin embargo, ante la presencia de viento el tiempo de recorrer una arista puede depender del sentido en el que se haga. La dificultad del problema aumenta si además la intensidad del viento puede variar de un instante a otro. En esta tesis se aborda el problema anteriormente descrito para el caso particular en el que los vértices son puntos en el plano, el impacto del viento en los tiempos de recorrido de las aristas está relativamente acotado y el subconjunto de las aristas a recorrer inducen un árbol que abarca todos los vértices excepto la base de los drones. Dado que los drones operan simultáneamente y pueden recorrer distintas partes de la gráfica de manera independiente, se desea minimizar el tiempo que emplea el dron con el recorrido más tardado. Esta tesis presenta un modelo matemático para resolver el problema de manera exacta, así como tres heurísticas diferentes para obtener buenas soluciones factibles. La primera de estas heurísticas transforma una solución sin viento y sin batería en una solución con viento y batería. La segunda heurística es un algoritmo glotón sin comunicación entre los drones y la última heurística también es un algoritmo glotón, pero con comunicación entre los drones. Aunque el problema abordado resulta ser lo suficientemente difícil como para que su resolución exacta sea inviable en la práctica, las heurísticas diseñadas son fáciles de implementar y obtuvieron resultados razonables en un tiempo corto de cómputo.

Drone aircraft--Control systems. Drone aircraft--Mathematical models. Mathematical optimization. Heuristic programming. Dynamical systems. Graph theory. Micro vehículos aéreos. Optimización matemática. Programación heurística. Teoría de grafos. TL589.4 CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA MATEMÁTICAS INVESTIGACIÓN OPERATIVA DISTRIBUCIÓN Y TRANSPORTE

Modeling the growth, yield and N dynamics of wheat for decoding the tillage and nitrogen nexus in 8-years long-term conservation agriculture based maize-wheat system

C.M. Parihar Dipaka Ranjan Sena Prakash Chand Ghasal Shankar Lal Jat Yashpal Singh Saharawat Mahesh Gathala Upendra Singh Hari Sankar Nayak (2024, [Artículo])

Context: Agricultural field experiments are costly and time-consuming, and their site-specific nature limits their ability to capture spatial and temporal variability. This hinders the transfer of crop management information across different locations, impeding effective agricultural decision-making. Further, accurate estimates of the benefits and risks of alternative crop and nutrient management options are crucial for effective decision-making in agriculture. Objective: The objective of this study was to utilize the Crop Environment Resource Synthesis CERES-Wheat model to simulate crop growth, yield, and nitrogen dynamics in a long-term conservation agriculture (CA) based wheat system. The study aimed to calibrate the model using data from a field experiment conducted during the 2019-20-2020-21 growing seasons and evaluation it with independent data from the year 2021–22. Method: Crop simulation models, such as the Crop Environment Resource Synthesis CERES-Wheat (DSSAT v 4.8), may provide valuable insights into crop growth and nitrogen dynamics, enabling decision makers to understand and manage production risk more effectively. Therefore, the present study employed the CERES-Wheat (DSSAT v 4.8) model and calibrated it using field data, including plant phenological phases, leaf area index, aboveground biomass, and grain yield from the 2019-20-2020-21 growing seasons. An independent dataset from the year 2021–22 was used for model evaluation. The model was used to investigate the relationship between growing degree days (GDD), temperature, nitrate and ammonical concentration in soil, and nitrogen uptake by the crop. Additionally, the study explored the impact of contrasting tillage practices and fertilizer nitrogen management options on wheat yields. The experimental site is situated at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, representing Indian Trans-Gangetic Plains Zone (28o 40’N latitude, 77o 11’E longitude and an altitude of 228 m above sea level). The treatments consist of four nitrogen management options, viz., N0 (zero nitrogen), N150 (150 kg N ha−1 through urea), GS (Green seeker based urea application) and USG (urea super granules @150 kg N ha−1) in two contrasting tillage systems, i.e., CA-based zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT). Result: The outcomes exhibited favorable agreement between the model’s simulations and the observed data for crop phenology (With less than 2 days variation in 50% onset of flowering), grain and biomass yield (Root mean square error; RMSE 336 kg ha−1 and 649 kg ha−1, respectively), and leaf area index (LAI) (RMSE 0.28 & normalized RMSE; nRMSE 6.69%). The model effectively captured the nitrate-N (NO3−-N) dynamics in the soil profile, exhibiting a remarkable concordance with observed data, as evident from its low RMSE = 12.39 kg ha−1 and nRMSE = 13.69%. Moreover, as it successfully simulated the N balance in the production system, the nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization pattern as described by the model are highly useful to understand these critical phenomena under both conventional tillage (CT) and CA-based Zero Tillage (ZT) treatments. Conclusion: The study concludes that the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model has significant potential to assess the impacts of tillage and nitrogen management practices on crop growth, yield, and soil nitrogen dynamics in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) region. By providing reliable forecasts within the growing season, this modeling approach can facilitate better planning and more efficient resource management. Future implications: The successful implementation of the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model in this study highlights its applicability in assessing crop performance and soil dynamics. Future research should focus on expanding the model’s capabilities by reducing its sensitivity to initial soil nitrogen levels to refine its predictions further. Moreover, the model’s integration with decision support systems and real-time data can enhance its usefulness in aiding agricultural decision-making and supporting sustainable crop management practices.

Nitrogen Dynamics Mechanistic Crop Growth Models Crop Simulation CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA NITROGEN CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE WHEAT MAIZE CROP GROWTH RATE SIMULATION MODELS

Multimodal deep learning methods enhance genomic prediction of wheat breeding

Carolina Rivera-Amado Francisco Pinto Francisco Javier Pinera-Chavez David González-Diéguez Matthew Paul Reynolds Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez Huihui Li Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Conventional Methods Genomic Prediction Accuracy Deep Learning Novel Methods CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA WHEAT BREEDING MACHINE LEARNING METHODS MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION

Universal fixation system for pad printing of plastic parts

JOSE ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ RAMIREZ (2023, [Artículo])

Pad printing is used in automotive, medical, electrical and other industries, employing diverse materials to transfer a 2D image onto a 3D object with different sizes and geometries. This work presents a universal fixation system for pad printing of plastic parts (UFSP4) in response to the needs of small companies that cannot afford to invest in the latest technological advances. The UFSP4 comprises two main subsystems: a mechanical support system (i.e., support structure, jig matrix and braking system) and a control system (i.e., an electronic system and an electric-hydraulic system). A relevant feature is the combination of a jig matrix and jig pins to fixate complex workpieces with different sizes. Using finite element analysis (FEA), in the mesh convergence, the total displacement converges to 0.00028781 m after 12,000 elements. The maximum equivalent stress value is 1.22 MPa for the polycarbonate plate in compliance with the safety factor. In a functionality test of the prototype performed in a production environment for one hour, the jigs fixed by the plate did not loosen, maintaining the satisfactory operation of the device. This is consistent with the displacement distribution of the creep analysis and shows the absence of the creep phenomenon. Based on FEA that underpinned the structural health computation of the braking system, the prototype was designed and built, seeking to ensure a reliable and safe device to fixate plastic parts, showing portability, low-cost maintenance and adaptability to the requirements of pad printing of automotive plastic parts.

Use of AI tools declaration: The authors declare they have not used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of this article.

Acknowledgments: To the company Plásticos Decorados and Centro de Tecnología Avanzada (CIATEQ A.C.) for the facilities and support to carry out this work. To the Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT) for a Ph.D. scholarship support number 500839 and CONAHCYT SNI.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Modular fixtures Jig matrix Prototype design Pad printing Fixture methods INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Strategies steering intensification pathways of farmers in central Malawi

Carl Timler Jeroen Groot Sieglinde Snapp Pablo Tittonell (2023, [Artículo])

Smallholder farmers face many challenges to improve their livelihoods and food security. Intensification of agricultural production can help to achieve these goals. Yet farmers are highly heterogenous in their strategies towards intensification, potentially following unsustainable intensification pathways. Using Q Methodology, we ascertain different strategies regarding farm improvement and intensification of smallholder farmers in the Dedza and Ntcheu Extension Planning Areas in Central Malawi. These strategies were associated to coherent sequential choices as expressed in “managerial intensification pathways” (MIPs). Three main strategies emerged: Seed Saving Peasants, Aspirant Modern Farmers and Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men. These were subsequently linked to four MIPs. Seed Saving Peasants focus strongly on local seed systems and post-harvest protection of grains, but also allocate more labour to improving crop residue use and manure quality, thus pointing to a labour-oriented MIP. Aspirant Modern Farmers willingly adopt hybrid seeds and inorganic fertilizers but require more extension support; these farmers follow a technology-oriented MIP. Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men are early adopters of new technologies and benefit from improved access to market information and suppliers of new technologies and follow a sustainable technology-based or techno-ecological intensification pathway. This study shows that strongly contrasting perspectives on intensification exist among smallholders and it is expected that their preferred intensification choices will have diverging impacts on the sustainability of their farms. A diversity of extension, advice and incentive instruments will be needed to support farmer decision making towards sustainably intensified farms.

Smallholder Farmers Q Methodology CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SMALLHOLDERS STRATEGIES SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION

On-farm storage loss estimates of maize in Kenya using community survey methods

Hugo De Groote Anani Bruce (2023, [Artículo])

Maize is the most important staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with highly seasonal production. High storage losses affect food security, but good estimations are lacking. A new method using focus group discussions (FGDs) was tested with 121 communities (1439 farmers, 52% women) in Kenya's six maize-growing zones, to estimate the maize losses to storage pests and analyze farmer practices. As control strategies, half of the farmers used chemical pesticides (49%), while hermetic bags (16%) and botanicals (15%) were also popular. Relative loss from weevils in the long rains was estimated at 23%, in the short rains 18%, and annually 21%. Fewer farmers were affected by the larger grain borer (LGB) than by maize weevils: 42% in the long rainy season and 32% in the short rainy season; losses from LGB were also smaller: 19% in the long season, 17% in the short season, and 18% over the year. Total storage loss, from both species combined, was estimated at 36%, or 671,000 tonnes per year. The greatest losses occur in the humid areas, especially the moist mid-altitudes (56%), and with smaller loss in the drylands (20–23%). Extrapolating the point data and overlaying with the maize production map shows the geographic distribution of the losses, with the most important area found around Lake Victoria. FGDs provide convenient and cheap tools to estimate storage losses in representative communities, but a total loss estimate of 36% is higher than is found in other studies, so its accuracy and framing effects need to be assessed. We conclude that storage pests remain a major problem, especially in western Kenya, and that the use of environmentally friendly technologies such as hermetic storage and botanicals needs more attention, both by the public extension service and private agrodealers.

Larger Grain Borer Maize Weevil CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE STORAGE LOSSES PESTS SURVEY METHODS